Battery switch



` 1,615,106 Jam 18' 1927' P. H. BETHEA BATTERY SWITCH Filed August 5. 1925 AI IORNEY Patented Jan. 18, 1927.

UNITEDSTATES IPETEBR H. BETHEA, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

BATTERY SWITCH.

. Application led August 8. 1925. Serial No. 47,851.

This invention relates to electrical devices, particularly to switches, and has for its object the provision of a novel switch designed particularly for use in connection with storage or other batteries for automobiles, radio apparatusand other purposes, the switch being so constructed and arranged as to be mounted locally upon or at the battery and being operable whereby to HJ break the circuit positively and avoid current leakage and consequently drain upon the battery especially when left standing.

A more specific object is the provision of a. switch device of novel construction whereby the actuation of the movable parts will be eected in a peculiar mannel so as to insure a positive make and break of the circuit when such. is desired.

An additional object is to provide a device of this character which willl be simple and inexpensive in manufacture, easy to install and use, positive in action, eiiicient and durable in service, and a general improvement in the art.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the invention consists in the details of construction and the arrangement and combination of: parts to be hereinater more fully described ,and claimedl'h 30 and illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which: f igure 1 is a device. o y

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough, the parts being shown in circuit closing' position.

Figure 3 is a plan View partly in section with the parts in circuit breaking position. Figure 4r is a cross section on the line 4-4 of F1gure 3, and

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view showinor two elements.

igure 6 is a perspective view of a modilication. a .A

Referring' more particularly to the draw ings, the numeral 10 desi ates a metallic body member formed wit a clamp 11 of ring-like or other kshape adapted to be env gaged upon the terminal battery Vorl the like thong obviously this clamp might be replaced by one of different formation for use in connection with other types of batteries, or in connection with a.

plan view of the complete ost of a storage' the present instance, the clamp 11 is shown as of circular shape and of split ring-like formation terminating in ears 12 through which passes a clamping bolt 13, this arrangement .being particularly advantageous for `use in connection with a storage battery. Suitably secured to the body 10 as for inf stance by being embedded therein is a cylin-I drical socket member lli which has its protruding end portion slit at intervals as shown at 15 in order to be resilient.

The numeral 16 designates a casing mem ber of suitable ilisulatin material which has one end secured upon t ie body 1U by any desired means and preferably provided with a.; reinforcing errule 17, though this is a mere mechanical detail. At the opposite end this-casing is likewise provided with a 4ferrule 18 and suitably secured within the casing is a bushing 19. As a matter of fact the outer casing l@ might be constructed of metal whereas, in this-event, the bushing 19 must iff be of insulating material, though it is obviens that any other arrangement may be provided if it has the equivalent effect. At one side the casing is formed with a boss 20 within which a sleeve portion 2l on the' bushing 19 constituting a bearing for a stem 22 'which is rotatably mounted and which carries an arm 23 on which is an operating head or button 24 serving as a handle. Movevment of the handle in one direction is limited by means of a stop 25 provided on the casing 16. Within the casing or rather within the confines of the bushing 19, the stem 22 can ries a. cam 2,6.

The numeral 27 designates a conductor upon one end of which is suitably secured al metallic member 28 having a socket 29 at one end receiving the conductor and having its other end tapered as shown at 30 so as to be capable of insertion Within the slit member 14. Intermediate its ends the member 28 is formed with a recess or notch 31 Within which the above described cam 26 is engaged.'

Obviously, the intermediate portion of the casing must be widened or enlarged as indicated at 32 to provide a chamber 33 within which the cam 26 may operate. I

- In the use 0f the device, it will be ap- Utl parentthat when the handle is in the position shown by full lines in Figure 2, the cam 26 engaged within the recess 31 will be in` conductor leading from any other source of \such position that the metallic member 28 u current, such details being immaterial and well within the scope of the invention. In

will have its tapered end 30 engaged within the slit end of the member 14, thus closing the circuit from the batteryto and through whatever apparatus is used in connection therewith. Whenever the battery is not in use and it'is'desired to cut o theY current positively and avoid leaking along the line, it is merely necessary that the *operator -grasp the head or button 24 and swing the arm 20 into its other position shown by dotted lines in Figure 2, whereupon the -ro- 19 tation of the cam 26 engaged within the recess 31 will slide the member 28 longitudivnally within the bushing 19 andY retract the taperedends from engagement with the member 14, thus lcutting'otl' the current. x5. In Figure 6 0f the drawings I have illustrated a slightly modified arrangement in which the clamping member' 11a correspond` ing to the above described clamping member 11 is arranged at right angles to the body of the device, the advantage in this instance being that the clamp 11a may be engaged upon the upstanding terminal post of a storage Ybattery or the like with the switch itself arranged in a` vertical position instead of horizontallyv as 'will of course be the arrangement in the form disclosed in the other figures above described. Obviously, the construction and the operation of this Y modified form are identically the same as the first described form, the only difference being in the arrangement of parts.

From the foregoirg description and a' study of the'drawings, it will be apparent that I have thus provided a simply constructed, inexpensive and; very easily operated device for the purpose specified, and one which will possess great durability. It is believed that the operation, construction and advantages will be readily apparent to one skilled 111 the art without further explanation. p While IY have. shown and described the preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that I reserve the right to make such changes in the form, construction, vand arrangement of parts' as will not depart tfrom the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims. Having thus described the invention, I claimz- 1.'In a switch device' of the character described, a metallic body-member formed with a terminal clamp adapted to be engaged upon the terminal element of a storage battery, .said body member having a tubular, portion, a split metallic sleeve emy forced within said split sleeve, said terminal clement having a transverse groove in one side thereof, a shaft element journaled through said bushing and carrying a cam operating within said groove and carrying a handle located exteriorly of said casing, and stop means on the casing engageable by said landle for limiting movement thereof in both directions.

2. In a switch device of the character described, a metallic body member formed with a terminal clamp adapted to be engaged upon the terminal element of a storage battery, said body member having a' tubular portion, a split metallic sleeve embedded within said body member in spaced relation to the and within the confines of the tubular portion,-a metallic casing member secured to said body, a liner of insulating material located within said casing meinber and immovable with respect thereto and including a` bushing portion extending out through one side, a conductor, a metallic terminal element carried by the conductor and having a tapered end adapted to vbe forced within said split sleeve, said terminal in both directions, said casing and said linerV being formed at one side to define a guide for said terminalniember and beingformed at an intermediate point with lateral extending portions accommodating said cam. Ip testimony whereof -I affix my-signa tur. Y

PETER H. BETHEA. 

